Closure structure for tubes or the like



g- 1932- s M. WEAVER 1,871,640

CLOSURESTRUCTURE FOR TUBES OR THE LIKE F-il d Dec. 1.9, 1929,

INVENTOR 5a mac/ flaw/1a lav ea yer ATTORNEYf 'EZU Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITE STATES CLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR TUBES OR THE LIKE Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,302.

This invention relates to improvements in closure structures for tubes and the like, such as tooth paste tubes, for example. More particularly, the'invention relates to that type 43 of'closure structures in which the closure cut-off member is not removed to expose the tube discharge opening, as in the case of sive construction and'capable of convenient assembly in which there are one or more sealing gaskets which not only effectively prevent leakage of the tube contents but also effectively maintain the slidable closure cutofi member in its normal closing or cutting oif position; and which closurestructure is compact in form, neat and pleasing in appearance, and highly "efficient in use. f

More specifioobjects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention will be readily understood from the followingdescription thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the present improved closure structure applied to a tube, theview being on the line '11; Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of theclosure body memher and the tube; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the closure cut-off member and the confining cap therefor, the cut-off member being in a position which exposes the cap opening; Fig. dis a similar view of these two parts, with the cutoff member closing the cap opening; and Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the closure body member.

The present improved closure structure is particularly adaptedfor us-elwith collapsible tubes, such as tooth paste tubes,'for"example. 0 A portion 1 of such a tube is shown in the drawing, said tube havinga tapering upper end 2 terminating ina centrally disposed, upwardly extending tubular neck 3, asis usual. The neoksof most tubes of this sort are externally threaded'but the neck of the present tube is internally threaded, as shown in Fig. l.

Threadedvwithinsaid neck is the externally threaded portion 8- 0f the one-piece metal body member of the present closure structure, saidportion beingeither cylindrical or as shown, tapered slightly inwardly, the opening of the neck 3 having a corresponding taper, thereby providing an arrangement which insures a tight, leak-proof connection between the tube, neck and the closure body member. At'the upper end of its securing portion 8, said body memberis provided with an outwardly extending,generally' annular flange 9 which seats upon the upper end 10 of the tube neck 3. If desired, and as shown, an annular sealing gasket 12 of cork or the "like may be arranged or fitted in a correspondinglyshaped groove or recess/18 in the bottom of this flange, around the threaded portion 8, for

engagement with the upper end 10 of the tube neck,;which neck end may, for example, be'tapered inwardly, as shown, rather than being flat, as is usual. The flange 9- of the closure body member, may have any suitable or desired outer peripheral shape, either-circular or non-circular, and is here shownas having four straight side edges 15, whichgive the closure body member, in plan view, a square shape, as best indicated in Figs. 4: and 7 .7

Extending vertically through the central portion of the closure body member, orin other word's,"through portion-8 thereof, is a 1passageway'18, centrally disposed and of any suitable size and shape in cross dimenslon, being here shown as of rectangular shape, which enables tooth paste, if that is the contents of -thetube,to be ejectedin the desirable ribbon form. V v

The lower end of passageway 18 communicates with the interior ofthe tube 1 sothat a; suitable cut-off member must'be provided for the upper end of said passagewavto cover and: to expose thesame. The cut-oif way,

member of the present closure structure is a thin, flat metal member of generally rectangular shape and provided at its inner end with two oppositely and laterally extending, generally rectangular stop wings 21 to be later referred to. At its outer end, said cut-off member is provided with a suitable operating handle or finger piece, the handle 23 here shown being an integral rolled extension of increased width.

The closure cut-off member is maintained in assembly with the closure body member by a suitable one-piece metal cap having a top portion 25 corresponding in size and shape with the top flanged portion of the closure body member, being therefore of generally square shape. Depending from the four edges of said cap top portion are four, generally rectangularflanges 28, each provided at its lower edge, near the ends thereof, with two or more clamping tongues adapted to be sprung or bent inwardly beneath the flange 9 of the closurebody member, as indicated in Fig. 1. The. middle portionof one of said cap flanges, such as of flange 28a, is cut away to provide a suitable passageway 32for the closure cut-0E member 20, as best shown-in Figs. 1 and 5. I

' The closure cut-off member is therefore positioned between the top surface of the closure body-member and the bottom surface of the top portion 25 of the closure cap, which cap portion is provided with a suitable discharge opening 35 corresponding in size and shape to the passageway 18 of the closure body member. Said cap opening is, of course, in alignment with said body member passage- 3 and communication therebetween' is controlled by the closure cut-0E member 20, as will be readily understood. As best indicated in Fig. 5, the cap opening 35 is exposed, permitting the contents of the tube to pass through it from the closure body member passageway 18, by sliding the cut-ofl member outwardly or away from the tube. Such outward sliding movement of the closure cutoff member is limited by the engagement of its wings 21 with the cap flange'28a, so that there is no liability of said cut-off member becoming detached and lost. Sliding movement of the. closure cut-off member in the other direction, that is, inwardly, is limited by the engagement of its inner edge with the left end cap flange 28, as viewed in the drawing, or by the engagement of its handle 23 with thecap flange 28a," along which v flange said handle lies when thecut-ofi member is in its inner and normal closing position. To

prevent swinging or lateral movement of the closure cut-off member, the flange passagewayea, through whichsaidcut-oif member slides, is made but slightly wider than said cut-off member and the stop wings 21 of said member are of such width that they engage,

as at'37, thetwo side flanges of the closure such size with respect to the cap top portion 25 that the inner edge of the closure cut-01f member 20 must be notched, as at 39, in order thatsaid opening may befully exposed. Of course, the cut-off member might be shortened, but then its inner edge would not engage the left end cap flange 28, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6, and would not, therefore, form a limiting means for inward sliding movement of the cut-off member.

In order to effectively prevent leakage of the tube contents above the closure body member,'said member is provided in itstop surface with an annular groove or recess 40 surrounding passageway 18 and in which is arranged a correspondingly shaped sealing gasket 42 of cork or other yielding material. The thickness of said gasket preferablyexceeds the depth of said groove so that said gasket projects above the closure body member and yieldingly but firmly presses the closure cut-ofi member 20 up against the bottom surface of the closure cap top portion 25. Leakage of the contents of tube 1 is therefore not only effectively prevented bygasket 42 but the closure cut-off member is also effectively maintained thereby in any of its positions of adjustment. r

' It will thus be seen that the'present closure structure is of simple and inexpensive for-m, comprising 'a one-piece body member carrying with it, as a unitary structure, two seal- .ing gaskets, with consequent ease of assembly and disassembly of this part of the closure structure with respect to the tube neck; a onepiece metal cut-offmember; and a one-piece metal cap for maintaining the cut-ofl mem ber in assembly with the closure body member and which is secured to said body member by simple and inexpensive means. Taken as a whole,'the present closure structure is exceptionally compact and highly efli- 'cient in use.

1 Other features of the present closure structure will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates. While the present description and illustration have been specific in order to enable the invention to be fully understood, it will be appreciated that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention or sacrificing'its benefits and advantages.

What I claim is: I

1. A closure for the necks of tubes and the like, comprising a one-piece body member having a top portion adapted to overlie a tube neck and also having a depending porthrough its top and depending portions, the. lower end of'said passage-way beingfthereisterin with the upper end of the passageway or said body member, and a cut-off member interposed betwe-ensaid body member top portion and said cap member and adjustable to establish and to cut-ofl' communication between said body member passage-way and. said cap member opening. l

2. A closure as set forth in claim 1, char- 'acterized in that the depending portion of said body member is externally threaded and in that the tube neck to which it is secured is internally threaded.

3. A closure as set forth in claim 1, characterized inthat the neck to which the closure 7 is secured is internally threaded and has a slight inward taper and in that the depending portion of said body member is externally threaded and has a corresponding taper, an arrangement which insures a tight connection between said neck and the depending portion of said body member.

4. A closure for the necks of tubes and the like, comprising a body member having a top portion adapted to overlie the top of a tube neck and also having a depending portionintegral therewith and adapted to be secured to said tube neck, a sealing gasket adapted to the arranged between and engage the top portion of saidbody member andthe top of said tube neck, said body member having a passageway adapted for communication with the interior of any tube to the neck of which said body member is secured, a cap member secured to said body member and overlying the top portion thereof, said cap member having an opening registering with the passage-way of said body member, a cut-ofi member interposed between said cap member and the top portion of said body member and being adjustable to establish and cut-off communication bet-ween said cap member opening and said body member passage-way, and a sealing gasket arranged between and engaging said cut-ofi' member and the top portion of said body member.

5. A closure for the neck of tubes and the like, comprising a body member having a top portion adapted to overlie the top of a tube body member is secured, a cap member secured to said body member and overlying the top portion thereof, said cap member having an opening registering with the passage-way of said body member, a cut-off member interposed between said cap member and the top portion of said body member and being adj ustable to establish and cut-off communication between said cap member opening and said body member passage-way, the top portion of said body member being provided in its top surface with an annular groove, and an annular sealing gasket secured in said last mentioned groove and adapted to be clamped with sealing effect between the top portion of said body member and said cut-oflt member.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature. SAMUEL MARSHALL WEAVER.

neck and also having a depending portion 1 integral therewith and adapted to be secured to said tube neck, said top portion being provided in its bottom surface with an annular groove, an annular sealing gasket secured in said groove and adapted to be clamped with sealing effect between the top portion of said body member and the top of the neck to which the depending portion of said body member is secured, said body member having a passage-way adapted for communication with the interior of any tube to the neck of which said 

